Despite significant internal updates, the upcoming Pixel 11 Pro faces criticism over higher prices and reduced flagship features, prompting some users to hold off on upgrading.
Google’s next Pixel flagship is shaping up to be a more substantial internal refresh than the company has offered in some recent years, but that does not necessarily make it a more tempting upgrade. Joe Maring of Android Authority said he has used both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro as daily phones and still rates Google’s Android software highly, yet he now expects to sit out the Pixel 11 Pro cycle despite the prospect of a sizeable hardware reset.
On paper, the new model could be one of Google’s most meaningful engineering changes in years. Reports suggest the Tensor G6 will move to TSMC’s 2nm process, while an FCC filing and other industry coverage point to a shift away from Samsung’s modem silicon towards MediaTek technology, most likely the M90. That combination is being framed as a way to improve efficiency, reduce heat and extend battery life, all areas where Tensor-powered Pixels have been criticised before. Analysts and gadget sites have also pointed to better 5G performance and more capable signal handling as possible benefits of the modem change.
Even so, the value proposition looks weaker for buyers who already moved to a Pixel within the past two years. Android Authority said the base Pixel 11 Pro is expected to start at 256GB rather than 128GB, which would raise the entry price to a rumoured $1,099. The same reporting suggests that the top-tier configurations may get 16GB of RAM, while the cheapest version could be limited to 12GB, a compromise that undercuts the promise of a premium device built around AI and longevity.
There is also a broader market context to consider. Component costs and memory shortages are pushing manufacturers to make awkward trade-offs, and Google may be trying to shield the price of its entry model. But that logic does not necessarily soften the disappointment for users who expected a fully loaded flagship at the top of the range. For a phone sold heavily on on-device AI, multitasking and future-proofing, reserving the best memory configuration for a more expensive storage tier feels like a narrow offer rather than a straightforward upgrade.
The Pixel 11 Pro may still be a worthwhile step up for people coming from a Pixel 7, Pixel 8 or an older Android handset. Android Authority said the phone is also expected to get brighter, charge faster at up to 45W and gain a new lighting feature in the camera bar, though that has been described as more of a novelty than a headline attraction. Camera hardware appears set to stay largely familiar, with Google instead focusing on a new processing coprocessor to accelerate features such as Night Sight and HDR video. For Maring, though, those refinements do not amount to enough of a reason to replace a Pixel 10 Pro that already delivers strong battery life, solid AI performance and consistently good photography.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
